A blog about my journey through life as a homemaker, wife, homeschooling mother and follower of Christ.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Why? What? and How?

"She (mother) must ask herself seriously, Why must the child learn at all? What should they learn? And How should they learn it? If she take the trouble to find a definite and thoughtful answer to each of these three queries, she will be in a position to direct her child's studies; and will, at the same time be surprised to find that three-fourths of the time and labor ordinarily spent by the child at his lessons is lost time and wasted energy."

-Charlotte Mason, Home Education pg. 171

I have been thinking about these questions a lot lately. Before I begin any schooling with Jeb I wanted to get the answer to these questions in black and white. The answers to these questions will form the foundation for our home school. I hope to get Chris to answer these questions and combine his thoughts with mine.

Why? Since we are called by God to be good stewards of all that he has entrusted to our care, my children should learn because he has blessed them with minds that are capable and hungry for knowledge. I want my children learning all they can in preparation for the purpose and plan God has for their lives.

What? My children should learn first and foremost about God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ. If they do not learn of God's love for them and Jesus' sacrifice for them, nothing else really matters.

"the knowledge of God is the principal knowledge and the chief end of education."

-Home Education, preface

My children should also learn:

to love and care for God's creation (understanding that the created reveals the creator)

to read

skills to be successful in day to day life (math, investigation, fixing things, the smooth running of a home, communication in writing and speaking, etc.)

(boys) to be protectors, providers and Spiritual leaders

(girls) to posses a gentle spirit and a servants heart

How? "We are limited to three educational instruments-the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit and the presentation of living ideas." Home Education, preface

My children can learn many things in the natural home atmosphere. Not only, the day to day workings of a home, but also the qualities of gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, and good communication as it is observed in our lives.

When my children become disciplined in the habits of attentiveness, truthfulness, imagination, remembering, etc. learning will be a joy.

When I present my child with living ideas, a passion for learning will be embraced. I do not want my children to be memorizing useless facts all day long to pass a test. I want my children to be immersed in ideas that they feel passionately about. I do not want my children to memorize historical dates, but to experience what it was like to live in a particular time and place. I want my children to watch a caterpillar change into a butterfly and not just observe drawings in a textbook. I want them to use measurements while building a birdhouse, not just read about them in a math word problem.

Most of all, I see so much potential in my children and I want to be the one that nurtures and encourages. I want to be the one that teaches them to read. I want to be the one that takes them on a field trip. My children's unique learning styles and talents cannot be nurtured to their full potential in a classroom setting. I know because I have taught in a classroom!

Contributors

My Love

Chris and I have been married for 18 years. He is such a wonderful husband but what I love most is watching him be a daddy. He is our protector, provider, priest and prophet and I am forever grateful.

Six Little Quicks

Bo...the oldest

This is our oldest. He's a thinker...asks the hard questions. He loves legos...history...mom's homemade pizza...reading... fishing and hiking. He's our responsible young man. I know God created him for such a time as this and I can't wait to see his plan unfold.

Boo...10 years

This boy has a servant's heart. When I ask for help I know he'll say "sure". He enjoys working with his hands..helping his daddy work around the house makes his day. He loves legos...gardening...shooting his BB gun and hiking.

Miss LouLou...8 years

Miss LouLou is beautiful...independent...sweet...shy. She loves taking care of the younger ones. She holds baby brother and buries her face in his hair and just breathes...she loves his smell...and I love to watch her practice being a mommy. Now with a new sister she is getting more practice than ever. Although she insists she's not getting married...she's living with mommy and daddy forever;-)

Little Bitty...6 years

Little Bitty is giggles and fire and sneaky and cute. She brings laughter and love and snuggles to our day. She's daddy's best buddy and cries when mommy leaves the room...but as soon as she calms down she finds something to get her hands into;-)

Nayna...4years

Nayna is huggable...loveable...and rather loud too. She makes us laugh. She and rooster are best buddies and can make each other scream too. She is already sounding out words and writing them and showing interest in learning to read. No one else has shown an interest at such a young age.

Rooster...3 years

Sweet baby boy...I love to bury my nose in his hair and just breathe...I love to kiss those cheeks dripping with sugar...I love to get a smile from him first thing in the morning...I love the way he reminds me of a fresh start...He is growing in independence and he loves to talk!

"Thank you for letting Jesus in our home." -Bo 3 years

"He settles the barren womanin her homeas the happy mother of children."Praise the Lord!"Psalms 113:9

"Let me repeat, that I venture to suggest, not what is practicable in any household, but what seems to me absolutely best for the children; and that, in the faith that mothers work wonders once they are convinced that wonders are demanded of them."-Charlotte Mason